We report on the synthesis and structures of zwitterionic alkali metal methanides of formula [C(SiMe2OCH2CH2OMe)3]M (M = Li, Na, K). These strong Bronsted bases readily form frustrated Lewis pairs (FLP's) with a variety of organoboranes ranging from Mes2BF and BPh3 to the weak Lewis acidic alkylborates, B(OR)3 (R = Me, Bu, Pri). Cleavage of dihydrogen with these novel FLP's occurs readily to give isolable borate salts of formula [HC(SiMe2OCH2CH2OMe)3M][HBR3] (M = Na, K) almost quantitatively. The synthetic utility and novel reactivity of this new class of FLP's will be discussed. Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/242nm/uploads/87239_acs_abst_figure1.jpg' alt='' />

Zwitterionic alkali metal methanides: Strong BrØnsted bases that form hydrogen cleaving FLP's with weak Lewis acids

245th National Meeting (2013)

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